The remaining two days of the regular meeting in Kulubara Town proceeded as scheduled without incident.
With nothing particularly urgent on his plate, Chase decided to spend his free time taking the Dark Magician Girl for a walk through the surrounding mountains and forests.
Of course, their definition of a "stroll" mainly involved tracking down magical beasts or birds of prey and, well stretching their muscles by beating them up.
It was worth mentioning that during the lunch break between meetings, Makarov received a magical letter from Mira.
The contents were simple but brimming with excitement: Erza had formed a team with Natsu and Gray.
Mira's smiling silhouette projected from the magic letter, her expression full of pride. She was clearly thrilled.
She explained that this team might be the strongest combination in Fairy Tail at the moment, and she wanted to share the news with Master Makarov right away.
She also specifically noted that Lucy would be joining the team not just for balance, but mainly to keep Natsu and Gray from constantly fighting when Erza wasn't paying attention.
Mira, ever thoughtful, was quite pleased with what she called her "perfect arrangement."
After reading the letter, Makarov suddenly turned pale.
The hand holding the magic letter trembled uncontrollably.
Meanwhile, Chase who had been lounging nearby took the opportunity to casually blow up the next hilltop over.
Let's set aside the question of strength for now.
Just in terms of raw destructive power...
Erza, Natsu, and Gray together could probably equal two Chases!
"We're heading back tomorrow…" Makarov muttered to himself, cold sweat running down his neck. "Please, please let those three not do anything stupid… like, say… tear down an entire city."
He looked up toward the sky, hands clasped together as if in prayer.
We've finally gotten a bit of good press thanks to Chase and the Demon Ruins Island incident… Can't we just go one week without a catastrophe?!
Makarov didn't know whether to be relieved or more anxious.
He was painfully aware of how much chaos his guild members could cause.
And as for that "strongest team" Mira had sent out?
Well…
At this moment, they had already accidentally destroyed half of the Oshibana Station, collapsed a section of the Lyusicaa Gorge Railway, and smashed three entire train cars!
To be fair, it was all in the name of justice.
They were fighting to stop the dark guild Iron Forest's evil plan to steal innocent souls, and the destruction had mostly come from their fierce battle against Erigor, Kageyama, and the other enemies.
Still, compared to what had happened on Demon Ruins Island with Chase...
Only Erza's team knew what they'd done.
There were no Magic Weekly reporters or tourists with camera lacrimas around to witness and record the carnage this time.
So technically, there was no solid evidence.
Only they knew the truth.
And as the sun set gently over Kulubara Town and Fiore beyond it
Time quietly moved forward.
By the time Chase and the Dark Magician Girl returned to the mansion after their "hunt," the sun had already begun to set, casting long golden shadows over the hills.
Most of the guild masters who lived nearby had already departed, leaving behind only a small handful who were staying one more night to catch the early train the next morning.
On a hill overlooking the mansion, Makarov sat alone in a quiet corner, holding a freshly released issue of Magic Weekly's photo album in his hands. He was flipping through it with great enthusiasm.
"The models in this issue are top-tier… The outfits, the poses… absolutely fantastic," he murmured to himself.
"It's a real shame the Ermogen theme series featuring Mira and the Dark Magician Girl got canceled."
"What a waste. I really wanted to see that…"
The old man sighed dramatically, but his eyes never once left the glossy, full-color spreads of swimsuit-clad models and magical beauties.
Right then, a bandaged man appeared on the path below, catching Makarov's attention.
It was Kageyama a member of the dark guild Iron Forest who had managed to slip away during the chaos of Erza's pursuit.
In his hands, he clutched a sinister-looking flute.
"Huh? What's a badly injured young man doing wandering around here?" Makarov muttered.
But the moment his eyes settled on the flute, a sharp glint flickered in Makarov's gaze.
That was no ordinary flute.
Still, Makarov kept his tone casual and cheerful as he called out, "Hey there! Hey, you! If you're hurt that bad, you really shouldn't be wandering around! You'd be better off in a hospital bed, you know!"
His sudden shout startled Kageyama, who had just been preparing to blow into Lullaby the cursed flute capable of stealing souls. His intent had been to play it and slaughter the remaining guild masters in the mansion in one stroke.
But the unexpected voice threw him off.
And when he looked up and recognized the speaker, panic flashed in his eyes.
"Oh? Uh, n-no, nothing! I just needed some fresh air, that's all!" he stammered, trying to sound casual.
Fresh air? Out here in the wilderness near the mansion where the regular meeting was being held?
Makarov didn't buy it for a second.
But he didn't press the issue either.
He simply pointed at the flute in Kageyama's hands.
"That's an interesting-looking instrument you've got there. Is that... a flute? The shape's kinda creepy."
"Y-Yes! I'm actually a musician!" Kageyama forced a bright smile and scratched the back of his head, acting harmless. "Would you like to hear a little performance?"
"I see, a performer, huh?"
Makarov nodded thoughtfully, tucking the photo album under his arm.
"Alright then. Make it quick. I've got things to do."
With that, he hopped off the stone pier and calmly walked toward Kageyama his eyes, however, had turned deadly serious.
Heh… This is too easy. The president of Fairy Tail is way too trusting…
A cold glint flashed through Kageyama's eyes as he slowly raised the flute Lullaby to his lips.
The moment I play this tune, these self-righteous, high-and-mighty official guild masters will all drop dead. Their bodies will fall… and even their souls will be obliterated.
As Kageyama prepared to unleash the cursed melody, the shadows in the distance began to stir.
Hidden in a thicket farther up the hill, Chase crouched beside a few guild masters who had also sensed something suspicious and chosen to remain quiet. They stayed concealed, watching carefully to see what would happen next.
Then
A sudden rustling and the sound of hurried footsteps broke the silence.
Several familiar figures burst onto the scene, heading straight for the mansion.
It was Erza, Natsu, Gray, Happy, and Lucy the strongest team, who had come to Kulubara Town hot on the heels of the Iron Forest members!
"Huh? All the guild masters are here?" Lucy blinked in surprise. "Even Chase-kun's here too...?"
Compared to Lucy's mild surprise, Natsu wasn't nearly as composed.
He opened his mouth, ready to yell and expose the entire plot of Iron Forest for everyone to hear.
But just as he inhaled, someone raised a finger to their lips.
"Shhh! Little ones from Fairy Tail, this is the good part," whispered Goodman, the leader of Four Hounds. "Let's not spoil the mood."
He smiled, then subtly gestured with his eyes toward the pair standing below Makarov and Kageyama.
The moment the team spotted their guild master standing there calmly, they all breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Master's here… everything's going to be fine.
Seeing this, Bob, the president of Blue Pegasus, decided to seize the moment for a little mischief.
Hearts practically bursting from his eyes, Bob from Blue Pegasus began running after Natsu and Gray, his arms flailing with joy and a blush across his face.
"Don't be shy, boys! You've both grown into such handsome young men!"
Knowing full well how terrifying Bob's affection could be, Natsu and Gray immediately panicked and scattered like cats avoiding a thunderstorm.
"Stay away from me!"
"Not this again someone hold him back!"
Their over-the-top reaction, combined with Bob's gleeful pursuit, created a scene so chaotic and unsettling that Lucy broke out in goosebumps.
With a pale face, she leaned in toward Happy and whispered nervously, "W-Who is that… person?"
Happy flapped beside her and whispered back, "That's Bob… President of Blue Pegasus. Just don't make eye contact."
Erza, meanwhile, didn't even blink. She was completely unfazed by Bob's antics.
Instead, after giving a few brief instructions to Lucy and the others, she stepped forward her steel boots ringing with each step and made her way directly to Chase and the Dark Magician Girl.
"It's been a while, Chase. Dark Magician Girl," Erza greeted them firmly, standing tall.
"Hey, Erza. Long time no see," Chase replied with a grin.
After exchanging those words, the two simply stared at one another for exactly two and a half seconds.
No words. Just mutual recognition.
Then without warning Erza suddenly moved.
She raised her arm and, in one fluid motion, pressed down on Chase's head with lightning speed.
But Chase didn't resist.
Instead, he calmly focused his gaze and quickly summoned a layer of magic around his forehead, concentrating all his power there in a heartbeat.
Boom!
Erza brought Chase's magically reinforced skull down with precision smashing it against her armored chestplate with a ringing clang.
A crisp sound of steel-on-steel impact echoed through the clearing.
"Oho?" Erza raised an eyebrow. "That's a solid reinforcement technique, Chase. Looks like you've gotten a lot stronger since your time on the Kiltina Continent."
"Haha, and Erza's armor is definitely tougher than ever," Chase replied with a wide grin, rubbing the faint steam rising from his forehead.
The moment of friendly violence passed, and the two warriors smiled at each other, battle-hardened and proud.
"I've heard about what happened on the Island of Demon Ruins," Erza said, arms crossed and eyes gleaming with admiration. "You really lived up to your name, Chase. Caused a massive uproar the moment you got back."
"It's nothing," Chase replied with a grin. "I mean, I almost blew up the entire island, that's all."
"I see. Trying to take back the title of King of Destruction, are you? That won't be easy."
Chase raised an eyebrow. "And you, Erza I heard some of your stories too. Word reached even the Kiltina Continent."
"Really? Really?! What did you hear? Tell me everything!" Erza's expression changed instantly. Her eyes sparkled as she leaned forward eagerly, like a child asking for bedtime stories.
…
A few feet away, Lucy blinked blankly at the bizarre interaction unfolding before her eyes.
The two had gone from headbutting each other to talking like old friends catching up over tea and Erza of all people was acting adorably excited.
Lucy glanced around, then slowly turned to Happy, whispering out of the side of her mouth, "So… this is Chase-kun's special way of greeting Erza?"
Happy nodded solemnly. "Apparently."
Lucy stared a moment longer, the corners of her mouth twitching.
Okay… that's… weird.
It's so weird I don't even know where to begin complaining…
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